Neuroprotective and Antioxidant Enhancing Properties of Selective Equisetum Extracts

Abstract

The sterile stems belonging to the Equisetum species are often used in traditional medicine of various nations, including Romanians. They are highly efficient in treating urinary tract infections, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory tract infections, and medical skin conditions due to their content of polyphenolic derivatives that have been isolated. In this regard, this study aimed to provide the chemical composition of the extracts obtained from the Equisetum species (E. pratense, E. sylvaticum, E. telmateia) and to investigate the biological action in vitro and in vivo. For the chemical characterization of the analyzed Equisetum species extracts, studies were performed by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC-DAD). In vitro evaluation of the antioxidant activity of the plant extracts obtained from these species of Equisetum genus was determined. The neuroprotective activity of these three ethanolic extracts from the Equisetum species using zebrafish tests was determined in vivo. All obtained results were statistically significant. The results indicate that E. sylvaticum extract has a significant antioxidant activity; whereas, E. pratense extract had anxiolytic and antidepressant effects significantly higher than the other two extracts used. All these determinations indicate promising results for the antioxidant in vitro tests and neuroprotective activity of in vivo tests, particularly mediated by their active principles.

In Vitro Antioxidant, Antitumor and Photocatalytic Activities of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Equisetum Species: A Green Approach

“…The lowest scavenging activity of the hydroxyl radical was recorded for Ep–AgNPs. The same order was observed in the case of extracts, as well [ 53 ]. In Figure 8 , it can be seen that at a concentration of 0.625 mg/mL, the used standard (gallic acid), Ep–AgNPs and Et–AgNPs show approximately the same scavenging capacity.…”

“…Among the obtained nanoparticles, the lowest efficiency regarding LOX inhibition can be seen for Et–AgNPs. The constituents of E. sylvaticum seem to possess the most important capacity of inhibiting LOX, taking into account results from previous studies [ 53 ] and the fact that only Es–AgNPs showed a higher efficiency compared to gallic acid.…”

“…This could be explained through the involvement of only some of the polyphenols found in the extract in the formation of AgNPs. Correspondingly, in the case of extracts, the best antioxidant activity was also observed for E. sylvaticum [ 53 ]. As shown in Figure 6 , all AgNPs obtained from the Equisetum species showed a much more intense chelating capacity of the ferrous ion than gallic acid, which was used as standard.…”

Exploring the potential of white birch sap: A natural alternative to traditional skin whitening agents with reduced side effects

“…To further evaluate the safety of WBS, we performed an experimental analysis of the behavior of adult fish. Behavioral testing was performed using the novel tank test (NTT), which was used to assess the anxiety-like response [ 26 ]. Briefly, the NTT was a trapezoidal tank (1.5 L, 15 height × 28 top/22 bottom × 7 width cm) that was essentially divided into top and lower halves [ 27 ].…”

Preliminary Phytochemical and Biological Evaluation of Rudbeckia hirta Flowers

“…The inhibition of the enzyme was evaluated using a modified Malterud method [70,91]. 50 µL Glycine max lipoxidase in borate buffer was treated with 50 µL of a sample/control solution of varying concentrations in DMSO and allowed to stand for 10 min.…”